If you recently filed Form 1040 and are expecting a refund, the IRS website offers a way to check the status of the refund online. To use this aptly-named “Where’s My Refund” tool, you simply enter your SSN, filing status and exact amount of refund shown on your 1040. The IRS suggests you wait at least three weeks before investigating your refund, to allow time for them to process it. The link to this feature can be found here.

Form W-8BEN-E was very recently revised. This form is used by non-U.S. entities who receive payments from the U.S. that potentially are subject to withholding. New for 2014, it also is used to comply with the significant recordkeeping burden related to provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”). Most of those new requirements are effective on July 1, 2014. Any party receiving or making payments from a U.S. payer to a non-U.S. payee should become familiar with these rules. Please contact Stuart Lyons at 1-800-244-7444 with any questions related to this form or potential applicability of FATCA’s rules to your situation.

FinCen 114 is the replacement/successor to Form TDF 90-22.1. In general, this form must be filed no later than June 30 by any owner or person holding signature authority of a foreign financial account if the balance at any time in the prior year exceeded $10,000. Common examples include individual foreign bank accounts or corporate bank accounts for which an executive can sign checks. Unlike prior years, this form now must be filed electronically. BNN has written extensively on this subject. More information can be found here.

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